Improved detached metallic cartridge-tubes



D. MINESINGER. Breech-Loading Fire-Arm Patented Feb. 27, 1849 the chamber for the charge,

EMPROVED DETACHED *HlXlES I'NGER, 0F BEAVER, PF.

nusrLvA-irrn.

METALUC CARTRlDGlE-TUBES, &c., FOR FIRE- ARMS.

Specliicm ion forming pa rt of Letters Patent No. 5,2139, dated February 27, 1849.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, llli' fll) Idrnnsrnonn, of Beaver, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Arms charged at the breech, called Illiuesingers Improved De tached Metallic Cartridge Chamber Fire- Arm, which described as follows, reference beinghad to the annexed drawings 01'" the same, making pc of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a firearm containing the improvement, showing amci'cllie cartridge-tubeinserted, the holdor and cap shi down, and the hammer cocked. Fig. 2 is a bird seye view of the fire-arm, showing of the same portion the hinged cap and bolder thrown back for the purpose of removing the discharged metallic cartridge-tube and replacing it with one that is charged, the latter being shown in its proper position in the chamber of the gun. Fig. 3 is avertical longigitudinal section of the metallic cartridge-tube, showing-its tapered form, its parabolic end of and the direction of the vent. Fig. i is an end elevation of the breech of the metallic cartridge chamber. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the some.

Similar letters in the several figures, refer to corresponding parts.

The nature of my invention and improvement consists in making the external surface of my metallic eartridgetube of the form of a frustum or" a cone and the internal surface cylindrical, which causes the muzzle to be thinner than the breech, so that when the piece is discharged the heat from the explosion'of the charge will etrpan l. the muzzle instantaneous. ly .on accountloi its thinness and cause it to close the joint between the metallic cartridgetube and the chumber of the gun-barrel, into which it is inserted, and thus prevent any part of the explosion escaping at the breech, except that which issues from the vent, and also preventing the some degree of recoil as in the use of the cylindrical metallic cartridge-chamber, the points of friction being in annular circles from the muzzle of the tube to the breech against the interior surface of the chamber of the gun into which the cartridge is inserted, which chamber is made of corresponding shape and sigaeto that of the external surface of the cartridge-tube; also, in making the bore of the metallic cartridge-tube next the breech the relof the fire-arm, and

shape of a parabola; likewise in givin'g't rent an angular direction from the nipple-to the center of the parabolic end of the chamber; for the charge; also, in the-employment 'o'fja hinged holder for holding the metallic cartridge-tubc firmly in the chamber of the guibarrel with the muzzle close against theshoulder formed in the chamber of the barrel and preventing-any recoil of the cart-ridge'tube at the discharge of the piece, the hinges by which it is connected to the barrel allowing of its easyand ready insertion and removal during theoperation of changing gun in quick succession b venient position on the gun readiness for operation. The fire-arms to which my improvements are added are made in the usual manner, in the formation of the chambers for the recap ti'oif' of the metal hinged holder. v i A. represents the metallic cartridgetube; made externally in the form of a frustum or" a cone and internally that of acylinder, B, with; a parabolic end,'O, having anipple, D, for the; recepti on of the percussion-cap, resembling that which is ordinarily used in, percussipu fire-arms, pierced with a vent, manner, from which is extended an angular vent, F, such as that which isrepresentedat;- F in Fig. 3, extended into the apex ofthe parabolic end of the bore of the tube for the pur-; pose of igniting the charge at the center of its posterior end. The chamber for the reception of the tube A is made in the bore of the bar; is of the size and shape of the external figure 0f the tube, as'repre sented by dotted lines in Fig, 2. The bore of the tube and barrel are the same diameter. Their axes are coincident or on a right line.

The holder H, for holdi tridge tube A firmly in against the shoulders during the load, is composed of a cylindrical block of metal about the length and diameter of the tube, made fast to a cap, Lwhich is hingedto the barrel in the manner represented in Fig. 2 by the hinge J, so that when it is raised and thrown back insertion of the tube; and when shut down to its proper position,as represented in Fig. 1, the said cylindrical block H will fit between the breech L o the chamber and the tube in firing thei eing in the inost 00114; and always in except 2 lic cartridge-tube and the E, in-the ugfnlal' 1 mg the metallic car- I the discharge of it will be out of the way of the f the gun and the breech A of the tube, so as to efiectually prevent any recoil of the tube at the discharge of the piece, and so that the cap Lshall be coincident with the top of the barrel, being made of a corresponding size and form, and also serve as a cap to eflectually exclude all rain or water from the -j oints and not obstruct the line of fsightin taking aim, as is shown in Fig. 1, in which the top of the cap is represented to be on a line with the top of the barrel. Anotch, N, is cut from the corner of the cap, to allow it to fit close around the nipple 1) when shut down tight. A projection, P, is formed on the side of the cap, by which it is opened and closed readily.

The manner of nsing'this fire-arm will be discovered from what has been stated above; but, in order to make its use more clear, I willstate further that'the user, having provided himself with a number of tubes, all made,as above described,of uniform sizeand shape,and charged and capped and put into a cartouoh-box or other convenient holder, and, desiring to fire a number of rounds in quick succession, he commences by throwing back the cap I and holding-block from its chamber, and inserting a tube and again shutting down the cap and holder and discharging the piece. He again draws back the cock, throws back the cap and holder, removes the discharged tube, inserts a loaded tube, shuts down the holder and cap, and again discharges the piece, requiring only a few seconds for each discharge, the metallic cartridge-tube being so constructed in form and so proportioned in quantity or volume of metal (the forn of construction and proportion being presented in the drawings) as to producea progressive annular expansion by reason of the heat evolved in the explosion of hesion or friction between the said metallic cartridgetube and'the chamber of the gun, necessary and indispensable to retain theeame fixed and immovable, thus preventing recoil and escape of charge from any of the joints, &c. The said form and proportion are also so combined and adapted that in process of cooling or contracting of the metal the said metallic cartridge-tube may be Withdrawn from its chamber with ease, to be replaced byanother, 81c.

I am aware that fire-arms have been conarate metallic tubes containing the charges taken from a cartouch-box or other place, and

struction; but, never having seen or heard of any metallic cartridge' tube or hinged cap and holder that were made and arranged and operated in the manner and for the purpose that mine are, therefore,

What I claim as myinvention,'and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is The hinged holder H and cap I, in combicartridge-tube, A, constructed, arranged, and operated in the manner and for the purpose aboveset forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, before two subscribing witnesses, I this 29th day of May, A. D. 1848.

DAVID MIN ESIN GER.

Witnesses:

M. P. ELLIOT, L. \VAsmNoroN, Sr.

the charge, thereby creating the necessary'ad-' structed to load at the breech by means of septherefore I do not claim this principle of connation with the frustum-of-a-cone metallic V 

